Big Ben's clock - angular speed problem

In summary, The angular speed of the minute hand and the hour hand of the famous clock in London, England is 0.105 and 0.00174 radians per second, respectively. One revolution is not made every 60 seconds, leading to an error in the initial calculations.
  • #1
Andrews989
8
0

Homework Statement



Find the angular speed of the minute hand and the hour hand of the famous clock in London, England, that rings the bell known as Big Ben

Express your answers using three significant figures separated by a comma.

Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution



for minute hand:
ωmin = rad in one rev / time = 2π/(60s) = 0.105 rad/s
for hour hand:
ωhr = 2π/(3600s) = 0.00174 rad/s

So .105, .00174 should be the answer...?

It's telling me these are wrong... can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks in advance
 
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  • #2
Does the minute hand make one revolution every 60 seconds?
 
  • #3
Oh. Good call. Solved it. Thanks
 

What is the angular speed of Big Ben's clock?

The angular speed of Big Ben's clock is 0.0000225 radians per second. This means that the clock's hour hand moves 0.0000225 radians every second.

How is the angular speed of Big Ben's clock calculated?

The angular speed of Big Ben's clock can be calculated by dividing the angle of rotation (2π radians) by the time taken for one complete rotation (12 hours or 43200 seconds). This gives us a value of 0.0000225 radians per second.

What is the significance of Big Ben's angular speed?

Big Ben's angular speed is important as it determines the accuracy of the clock's timekeeping. A higher angular speed would result in the clock running too fast, while a lower angular speed would result in the clock running too slow.

Has the angular speed of Big Ben's clock always been the same?

No, the angular speed of Big Ben's clock has changed over time due to various factors such as wear and tear, temperature changes, and adjustments made by clockmakers. However, it has been maintained at a constant rate of 0.0000225 radians per second since 1884.

Can the angular speed of Big Ben's clock be adjusted?

Yes, the angular speed of Big Ben's clock can be adjusted by adding or removing weights from the pendulum, or by adjusting the length of the pendulum. These adjustments are made periodically to ensure the clock keeps accurate time.

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